Does a company pay unemployment benefits in Washington - confused about who funds my claim

So they're not writing me a check every week? That makes more sense. But they still get penalized somehow?

Exactly. They prepaid into the system through quarterly taxes. Claims against their account can raise their future tax rate though.

This is why some employers fight legitimate claims unfortunately. They're trying to keep their tax rates low by disputing everything.

That explains why my boss seemed annoyed when I filed. I thought they were being petty but there's actually money involved for them.

Never heard of claimyr but anything that helps get through to washington esd sounds worth trying

4 hours on hold sounds about right for Washington ESD. I'll check out that service if I need to call them again.

Yeah it saved me so much time and frustration. No more sitting by the phone all day hoping to get through.

What's the actual rate they pay? Is it a lot?

In Washington it varies but generally ranges from 0.19% to 5.4% of wages depending on the employer's experience rating. New employers start at 2.7%.

Exactly. They'll contest claims just to keep their rates down, even when the employee clearly qualifies for benefits.

So frustrating. I was laid off through no fault of my own but my employer still seemed upset about the claim.

good analogy. same way car insurance works - you pay premiums then file claims when needed

That makes perfect sense now. Thanks for explaining it that way.

Do companies get notified every time someone files a claim against them?

Yes, Washington ESD sends notices to employers when claims are filed. They have a chance to respond if they think the claim shouldn't be approved.

Interesting. I wondered if my employer knew I had filed.

Agreed. Could you imagine having to get your former boss to approve every weekly claim? That would be a nightmare.

lol my old boss would never approve anything. glad thats not how it works

So in a way they are paying for my unemployment, just not directly?

Correct. They contributed to the fund that pays all unemployment claims in Washington, including yours.

If they fire you for misconduct, you may not qualify for benefits. But they can't just fire you to avoid their unemployment tax obligations - they still have to pay into the system regardless.

Right, the taxes are based on payroll, not on whether employees get fired or laid off. Claims just affect future rates.

It's confusing because the money ultimately comes from employers, but it goes through Washington ESD first.

yeah that makes sense. like how sales tax works - companies collect it but send it to the state

Your new claim would be charged to whichever employer you worked for most recently, assuming you earned enough wages there. Each employer's account is tracked separately.

Exactly. If you work somewhere new for a few months and then get laid off, that new employer would be responsible for the claim, not your original employer.

might have to try that service myself. calling washington esd is such a pain

Definitely worth it if you need to actually talk to someone. Saved me hours of frustration.

Good point. I'm glad I don't have to negotiate with my former employer every week for my benefits.

As someone who worked in HR, I'm also glad we didn't have to cut unemployment checks directly. Would be a compliance nightmare.

Perfect summary. You've got it exactly right.

Yeah that's how I understand it now too. Makes way more sense than what I originally thought.

Good point. Some employers get upset about claims but they can't take it out on you legally.

That's reassuring. I was worried my employer might give me a bad reference because of filing.

Now you know - it's all about those future tax rates. Claims history directly impacts what they'll pay going forward.

yep, its not personal usually, just business. they want to keep their costs down

Absolutely. I feel much better about filing now that I understand how it actually works.

Exactly. Don't let employer pushback discourage you from filing legitimate claims. They've already paid their part.

I'm definitely bookmarking that for when I need to call them again.

Same here. This thread answered most of my questions but it's good to know there's a way to actually reach them if needed.

You're welcome! It's one of those things that seems confusing at first but makes sense once you understand the structure.

Glad we could help clear it up. The unemployment system is actually pretty well designed when you see how all the pieces fit together.